Heraklion Archaeological Museum

The Fresco of the Garlands, found west of the palace of Knossos, adorned a room's upper frieze and dates back to circa 1450 BC. It depicts five restored wreaths, each about 13 cm in diameter, featuring alternating leaves and flowers in bright red, blue, and green. The flowers, which look like anemones, ivy, lilies, and myrtle, highlight Minoan artistry. Made of painted plaster, the fresco symbolises nature's fertility and renewal, and the garlands tied with bows indicate their ceremonial use.

The Heraklion Archaeological Museum houses two fresco fragments featuring myrtle branches with birds and monkeys from the Monkeys and Birds Fresco in the House of the Frescoes. The leaves are painted in olive-green, and the stalks in rusty red on a buff background. There is an orange-red marble base with a dark brown outline, mimicking wood from where the plant emerges. Myrtle, a favoured motif in Cretan art, is also seen in fresco fragments from the Royal Road, Archanes, and the Royal Villa of Agia Triada.

The Heraklion Archaeological Museum displays fresco fragments from the House of the Frescoes. These illustrate dense reeds in dark yellowish-brown on a buff and blue background, indicating water in the landscape. These fragments from the South House at Knossos, dating to Middle Minoan III, are some of the earliest depictions of reeds in Minoan fresco art. Typically a supplementary motif in landscapes, reeds also appear in frescoes from the Unexplored House and a miniature frieze from Katsambas.

The Heraklion Archaeological Museum showcases fresco fragments known as the Crocus Panel from the House of the Frescoes. These fragments depict two clusters of crocus plants with pinkish-red flowers, dark anthers, and green leaves which are set against an ochre and blue background indicating a rocky landscape. Excavated by Sir Arthur Evans in 1923, this Neopalatial building west of the Palace of Knossos served both residential and ceremonial purposes which can be seen by its architectural elements and the prominence of crocus depictions.

The Heraklion Archaeological Museum features a stunning mosaic floor made from multicoloured stone tesserae with coloured glass details. It is framed by a braided guilloche motif which comprises four octagons creating a central lozenge and surrounding triangles. Each octagon is outlined by black tesserae, containing concentric circles adorned with running spirals and diagonal lines. The circles depict various birds, like doves with pomegranates, fighting roosters, sparrows with pomegranates, and parrots drinking from a kantharos. This intricate composition reflects iconographic styles from ancient art.

The Museum features a spectacular fresco fragment showcasing a papyrus-bead necklace from the Palace of Knossos, dating to the Late Minoan IB period between 1500-1450 BC. This plaster fragment measures about 3 cm in height and 3.7 cm in width. It is displayed in Gallery VI and it highlights aspects of daily life and personal care during the Neopalatial period. The intricate design of the necklace reflects the craftsmanship and aesthetic values of Minoan culture during the Late Bronze Age.

The Heraklion Archaeological Museum exhibits a fresco fragment featuring a woman's fingertips painted red, dating to the Neopalatial period from 1600-1450 BC. This plaster fragment measures 3.8 cm in height and 5.5 cm in width. It is on display in Gallery VI and it is part of the Late Bronze Age thematic unit, highlighting aspects of private and public life, including personal care. This fragment offers insight into Minoan daily life and the artistic attention given to depicting personal adornment during this era.

The Procession Fresco, housed in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, is a stunning artefact from the Late Bronze Age, specifically from the final palatial period between 1500-1400 BC. This vibrant plaster fresco, discovered in the Palace of Knossos, depicts a ceremonial procession and offers valuable insights into Minoan court life. You can see it on display in Gallery XIII, it forms part of the exhibition thematic unit on Minoan wall paintings.

The Marble Statue of the Philosopher at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum presents a mature figure in a contemplative pose. The statue features a man with one leg slightly extended back, a staff in his left hand, and his right hand raised as if speaking. Dressed in a himation, the cloak drapes from his right shoulder and his thoughtful expression suggests a scholarly identity. Supported by a bundle of scrolls, this sculpture is the first in the museum's catalogue and highlights its significant Sculpture Collection.